Memory from a Wonderful Childhood in Lae, Papua New Guinea
Mists in the Highlands – Acrylic on deep edge canvas
As small children living in Lae, Papua New Guinea my brothers and I had some wonderful experiences. I remember a lush, green, hot and very wet place. There were glorious flowers, incredible snakes, frogs, insects and lots of water. One of those memories comes from the times Dad and Mum took us to paddle in the Markham River. We were only tots then. I remember how shallow and rocky it was but the water was beautiful.
I was 7 when we left to come back to Australia, so my memories are what they are. Recently I have been going back over family photos of that time; sepia and black and white, small photos. So I painted this painting from my memory and the small reference photos.
The Markham is an ever changing river, running through highland forests to the Port of Lae. I often wonder what it would be like to go back to Lae to see where our lives were such an adventure.
I had some fun with this painting. Using a palette knife and airbrush to achieve the textures, colours and mood of the place.